Player-pumping apparatus.



A. ANDERSON.

PLAYER PUMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1910 1,082,254, A Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

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. W M W" q v1 A. ANDERSON.

PLAYER PUMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1910.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED ANDERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CONCORD COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23. 1913.

Application filed .Tune 20, 1910. Serial No. 567,756.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Player-Pumping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to player-pianos of that kind in which a bellows or pumping apparatus is employed for creating a vacuum or suction to operate the action and mechanism for controlling the perforated music. Ordinarily, in musical instruments of this kind, two bellows are employed, which are operated by the feet, but they are usually arranged close together at the center of the piano. This has been found to be objectionable, as it interferes with the adjustment or repair of certain portions of the piano, and prevents access thereto. This is especially so in cases where the bellows have been arranged close together in front of the lower portion of the string plate, thus precluding ready access to the latter.

My invention contemplates, therefore, a novel construction of player-piano in which the pumping apparatus consists of two separate bellows which are spaced apart below the keyboard, and which are each operated by a separate pedal, thus affording ready and convenient access to the lower portion of the piano, and especially to the string plate.

It is also an object to provide certain novel details and features of construction tending to increase the general efiiciency and desirability of a player-piano pumping apparatus of this articular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a front elevation of a player-piano embodying the principles of my invention, showing certain parts thereof removed to bring other parts into view. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line 22 in Fig. 1. Fig. Sis an enlarged section on line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 4--4 in Fig. l, or on line 4-4 in Fig. 2, in which latter case the section is on the same scale. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the auXiliary reservoirs or pneumatics shown in Fig.

1, and which are in the connections between the pumping bellows and the action of the player. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 66 in Fig. 5.

As thus illustrated, the player-piano comprises an upright string plate A of any suitable form or construction. The two bellows B and C are disposed in front of the string-plate, below the keyboard of the piano, and are spaced apart to afford ready and convenient access everywhere between them to the lower portion of the stringplate and other parts. The bellows B is suitably connected with and operated by a pedal 6, and the bellows C is suitably connected with and operated by another foot pedal E, which pedals may be of any suitable character.

The two bellows are substantially alike, and the construction of the bellows B is as follows: It comprises a stationary board I) flexibly connected with the movable board 6 which latter has the valve outlet 6 The reservoir 6* is mounted on the front of the board I) and connected to the interior of the bellows by the openings b which are controlled by the valve 1). The reservoir has a spring 6 that tends to keep it normally distended, and the bellows has its lower end provided with a spring 6 that tends to keep the bellows in a contracted condition. A valve box I) is mounted at the top of the bellows and has communication through the openings 5 with the interior of the reservoir o A valve 5, of any suitable or desired character, is inclosed in the box 6, and is operated by the cam I) carried on the crank rod or shaft 1), which latter is connected with the usual or suitable re-wind mechanism of the player-piano.

Normally the position of the cam 6 is such, while the music is being played, that communication is afforded between the reservoir b and the pipe o which connects with one end of the box I). There is at all times communication between said reservoir and the pipe 6, which latter extends to the valve box 0 of the other bellows. The said other bellows has a similar valve mechanism c that controls communication be tween the bellows C and the pipe 0 which latter leads from the other side of the valve box. These pipes 0 I), connect with the usual or suitable action of the player, and their communication with the pumping apparatus is controlled by the two valves. When the music is being played, the said valves are open, but during the re-winding of the music the said valves are closed, thus disconnecting the player action from the pumping apparatus. The valve box 0 has a pipe 0 that is always in communication with the pipe 6 and which leads to the motor for operating the music, which motor is not shown, but may be of any suitable or known construction. hen the pedal 1) is operated, the bellows B is actuated and a vacuum or partial vacuum is established in the reservoirs b and 0 causing the latter to contract, and a vacuum or suction is established in the pipes c and b. In a similar manner the actuation of the foot pedal E serves to operate the bellows C, again establishing a partial vacuum or suction in both bellows. Thus the two bellows are each operated independently of the other, but are so connecte together that the es tablishment of a. vacuum or suction or" one produces a like effect in the other.

Each bellows is removable independently of the other. This is by reason of the feet 1 on the lower edge of the bellows boards that removably engage the blocks 2 on the base or support, and the thumb screws 3 that removably fasten the arms a on the upper ends of the bellows boards to the upper supports 5, which latter may be 01 any suitable character.

As shown in Fig. l, the auxiliary reservoirs or pneumatics F and G are located respectively in the pipes 6 and 0 They are alike, and the description of one will be suflicient forboth. In Figs. 5 and 6 the reservoir F comprises a box f through which the air passes on its way from the player action to the bellows. The small pneumatic f is mounted on the side of this box and has communication therewith through the opening f Each auxiliary reservoir has a spring f for t 1e expansion thereof. Thus when the vacuum or suction is established by the bellows, the pneumatics of the a ux iliary reservoir F and G are collapsed or contracted. Suitable springs are provided for these auxiliary reservoirs, which springs tend to keep them normally distended. In this way these auxiliary reservoirs F and G assist the main reservoirs b and c in maintaining a vacuum or suction in the pipes Z) and 0 If the pumping action ceases or becomes too slow, these main and auxiliary reservoirs immediately expand and preserve the requisite vacuum or suction in the pipes 6 and 0 as well as in the pipes 0 thus preserving the full power necessary for playing the music.

During the re-winding of the music, the valves 7) and c are operated to confine the pumping action to the pipe whereby the action of the player is entirely out off and only the motor is operated to re-wind the music.

Thus it will be seen that I provide an improved and highly eflicient pumping apparatus which can be used in either a playerpiano, or a piano-p1aycr. hen used in a player-piano it has the advantage, as previously explained, of affording ready and easy access to the string-plate and other parts of the piano.

As stated, the two bellows B and C are each removable independently of the other, and are each supported in place independently of the air connections Z) between them. Consequently the two bellows can be removed without breaking the air connection between them. Also, it will be seen, each bellows carries with it a rewind valve, such as those already described, and the rewind connection 0 leads to a point between said valves. Each rewind valve is between the main and auxiliary reservoirs.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. A player-piano comprising an upright string-plate, and a pumping apparatus supported in front of said string-plate, which apparatus comprises two upright bellows which are each independently removable, and which are spaced apart and thereby affording access everywhere between them to the said string-plate, an air connection between said bellows, and means independent of said connection for fastening the upper ends of said bellows in place.

2. A player-piano comprising a pumping apparatus comprising two upright bellows which are each independently removable and which are spaced apart to afford access everywhere between them to other parts of the instrument, and means for separately opcrating said bellows, permitting removal of said bellows alone.

3. A player-piano comprising a string plate, and a pumping apparatus disposed in front of said string-plate, said apparatus comprising two upright bellows which are each independently removable, and which are spaced apart to afford access everywhere between them to the said string-plate, pedals for operating each bellows independently of the other, and an air connect-ion between said bellows whereby the air is drawn from one bellows into the other, which connection is the sole element of said pumping apparatus between said bellows, and means independent of said connection for fastening the upper ends of said bellows in place.

4. A player pumping apparatus comprising a bellows structure, a pipe leadingtherefrom for connection with the action of the player, amain expansible reservoir for said bellows, an auxiliary expansible reservoir for said pipe, whereby all air entering the bellows is subject to the action of the auxiliary reservoir, and a valve between the main reservoir and auxiliary reservoir, said valve being within the said structure.

5. A player pumping apparatus comprising a pair of bellows, a connection between said bellows, whereby the air is drawn from either one into the other, a pipe leading from each bellows for connection with the action of the player, a main expansible reservoir for each bellows, an auxiliary expansible reservoir between each main reservoir and the action, whereby all air entering the bellows is subject to the action of said auxiliary bellows, a rewind valve for each bellows, and a rewind air connection leading to a oint between said valves.

6. In a p ayer pumping apparatus, a structure comprising a pair of bellows, a connection between said bellows whereby air is drawn from either bellows into the other, means for operating each bellows independently of the other, an action pipe connection for each bellows, valves disposed in said structure for controlling communication between said pipe connectlons and the bellows, and a motor pipe connection for one bellows, which motor pipe connection is always in communication with the interior of both bellows, said valves adapted for cutting off the action during the rewind.

7 The improved pumping apparatus for player-pianos or for similar instruments, comprising two separate and independently removable bellows, each held only at top and bottom, and with a clear space between, each bellows being disposed upright, and each bellows having a rewind valve which is removable therewith.

8. In a player pumping apparatus, two

separate and independently removable bellows, which bellows are arranged upright with only an air duct between the upper ends thereof, whereby either bellows in its entirety may be removed without removing the other, said bellows spaced apart to afford access everywhere between them to points in rear thereof, and means whereby each bellows is removably held in place at top and bottom, permitting removal of both bellows without breaking the air connection between them.

9. In a player pumping apparatus, a bellows, a support for said bellows, feet on the bellows removably engaging said support, an arm for the upper end of said bellows, at the inner corner thereof, an upper support, and a thumb screw for removably securing said arm to said upper support, permitting removal of both bellows without breaking the air connection between them.

10. In a player pumping apparatus, a plurality of pumping bellows, each bellows being independently removable, there being only a separable or detachable air duct between the upper ends of said bellows, and there being space between said bellows, above and below said air duct, to afford acoess everywhere between them to points in rear thereof, said air duct being carried by and removable with said bellows.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 16 day of June, 1910.

ALFRED ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

E. F. REEPS, BERTHA WEBER.

Copies of thll patent may be obtained for five cents each, by'addressing the Commissioner of Patentn, Washington, D. C. 

